Myths & Facts
Myth: Personal watercraft owners are young, immature and irresponsible.
Fact: The typical personal watercraft owner is a middle-aged, highly educated and successful business person. The average age of personal watercraft owners surveyed is 41 with two-thirds of the respondents over 35. The majority of the owners (71%) are married with families. Forty one percent have children under 18 living at home. Three-fourths of those surveyed (77%) are employed in white-collar occupations with more than two-thirds (69%) having some college education and 40 percent having at least a four-year college degree. The average household income is more than $95,000.
Myth: Personal watercraft owners aren't the operators of the vessels.
Fact: By a wide margin (about 73% of the time), the person who owns the personal watercraft is the operator of the vessel.
Myth:Personal watercraft owners have little boating experience.
Fact: Typically, personal watercraft owners have substantial boating experience. More than two-thirds (68%) of the survey respondents indicated they had owned a powerboat of some type prior to buying their first personal watercraft. In addition, respondents indicated they have an average of 15 years' experience operating a powered watercraft of any type. Younger operators (24 years or less) have an average of six years' experience.
Myth: Personal watercraft owners have little concern for waterfront homeowners.
Fact: Actually, the opposite is true, since many personal watercraft owners are waterfront homeowners. Sixty-two percent of respondents surveyed have access to a waterfront home whether it is their primary home (15%), a second home they own or rent (27%) or a home of a close friend or relative (26%).
Myth:Personal watercraft owners most often use their vessels for reckless wave-jumping and speeding on public waterways.
Fact: Fifty-nine percent of the personal watercraft owners are really not interested in any type of intense physical activity when using their watercraft, but are more likely to use them for short cruises (62%), to cool off and get wet (62%) and to entertain visiting friends or family (61%).
Myth: Personal watercraft owners have little concern for responsible boating.
Fact: On the contrary, most personal water-craft owners are responsible boaters. A majority of survey respondents favor mandatory education for boaters, and believe it ensures better knowledge of boating regulations. In fact, the PWIA was the first marine industry organization to promote mandatory education for PWC operators. In addition, personal watercraft owners are more likely than traditional boat owners to wear their personal flotation devices, which results in fewer accidental drowning deaths.
RIVA Performance Forums 
Ive been riding for 20 years now and ive seen this sport take off, slow down and then come back but it seems that theres always a bad apple in every bunch that can ruin fun things as jetskiing. Ive gotta hand it to our parks and wildlife officials and other police of the water ways that they saw this coming and seemed to have really caught on to that there are families (such as mine) that enjoy a day at the beach or lake and like to have fun with PWC's. I believe its the drunks that get out there and act like idots on the water wether on a PWC or in a boat that scare me the most and this is where our law enforcement officials have really seemed to help in the areas I ride in. I don't mind at all if they pull me over cuz for one I know I'm not doing anything wrong and respect what they do but for two I want them all over those being disrespectful on the water. I love this sport and wish to see it continue to grow. I personally enjoy the different aspects this sport offers- I used to race standups and still actually get there on my old 650sx and act like the yesteryears! Riding with my family- My kids love it and so does my wife (she's got her own ski and thinks she IT) wrenching on ski's to make them faster and riding with a group of guys here. I encourage everyone that rides out there to be safe and be a good patron of this sport.
